SEOUL, South Korea — SEVENTEEN member Hoshi is facing a difficult setback during his mandatory military service after suffering a complete tear of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) while rehearsing with the Army Ground Forces Performance Team.
Hoshi personally informed fans of the injury on September 12 through Weverse, explaining that he hurt his knee during rehearsal and was subsequently diagnosed with a complete ACL tear after undergoing an examination. He said he will undergo surgery and focus on recovery.
The injury means Hoshi will be unable to take part in previously scheduled activities involving the Army Taekwondo Demonstration Team and the Ground Forces Festival, performances he had been preparing for and looking forward to.
Hoshi shares emotional update with CARATs
Rather than having his agency announce the news first, Hoshi addressed his fans directly.
He explained that the injury happened while he was practicing with the Ground Forces performance team and that medical examinations confirmed the complete ACL tear.
Hoshi expressed disappointment because he had worked hard in preparation for the upcoming performances. He also apologized to fans who had been waiting to see him on stage.
Despite being unable to participate, he encouraged fans to continue supporting the Taekwondo Demonstration Team and the Ground Forces Performance Team, which includes fellow SEVENTEEN member Woozi, whose given name is Ji-hoon.
Hoshi also reassured fans that he intends to receive proper treatment and concentrate on recovering so that he can return in good health.
A major setback for SEVENTEEN’s performance leader
The injury is particularly significant for Hoshi because performance has been central to his career.
Hoshi debuted with SEVENTEEN in 2015 and is the leader of the group’s Performance Unit. He is widely recognized for his dance skills and has also participated in SEVENTEEN-related units and solo activities.
His current military duties have also involved performance-related activities. Hoshi enlisted as an active-duty Army soldier in September 2025 and has participated in military performance activities during his service. His scheduled discharge is in March 2027.
The ACL injury therefore comes at a particularly unfortunate time, with Hoshi having been preparing for upcoming military performances.
What happens next?
Hoshi has said that surgery and recovery will now take priority.
The exact length of his recovery has not been announced publicly, so it would be premature to speculate about when he will be able to return to full performance activities.
For now, the immediate focus is medical treatment and rehabilitation.
The injury also means fans should not expect Hoshi at the previously scheduled Taekwondo demonstration event or the Ground Forces Festival. Korean media reports have confirmed that his absence from those events is directly related to the ACL injury.
SEVENTEEN’s military era continues
Hoshi’s injury comes as SEVENTEEN navigates a particularly complicated period because multiple members are fulfilling South Korea’s mandatory military service requirements.
The group has increasingly relied on different combinations of members, units and individual activities as military enlistments reshape its schedule. Recent reporting has highlighted the unusual challenge facing SEVENTEEN as more members enter service while the 13-member group temporarily operates with fewer members available for group activities.
Hoshi’s injury adds another unexpected complication.
Still, his message to fans focused less on the setback and more on recovery and support for his fellow soldiers and performers.
For CARATs, the immediate message is clear: Hoshi’s next stage is not a concert stage, but recovery.
And after years of being one of K-pop’s most recognizable performance-focused artists, his return to the stage will be a moment fans are likely to watch closely.
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